33 trapped Chilean miners could be free in ten days

London, Oct 5 (ANI): The 33 miners trapped underground in Chile could reportedly be rescued in just 10 days.

According to the Daily Mail, the rescuers are expected to make contact with the miners in next 48 hours, almost about two months after the San Jose mine collapsed.

Once a tunnel is secured between the mineshaft and the surface, a metal tubing would be inserted to ensure the walls stay rigid while a rescue capsule draws the miners to the surface one at a time.

The cabins are designed to protect the miners from the sunlight. Two family members would reportedly be allowed inside each cabin while carrying out the rescue operation.

According to the engineers, it might take two to six days to secure the escape route, but they were unable to give an exact time-scale because each step of the operation seems to be dangerous. A Chilean Navy commando will descend to the bottom to determine the order in which the long-suffering workers are freed based on condition of their health.

It is expected that the journey from pit bottom to the surface in the capsule will take 15 minutes. The miners would be given sedatives, if required, to ensure that they do not complicate the operation by panicking as they are winched out, the paper said.

A helipad has been hastily arranged so that the men can be transported, via a military base, to a hospital in the city of Copiapo. They might be kept under observation at least for two days before letting them go home, the paper said. (ANI)